Mordenkainen's Codex of Allies (30+ Subclasses)

Across the planes of existence and the world of Toril, new allies gather to challenge the multiverse's toughest opponents.

To celebrate the release of Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, which has unleashed hordes of dastardly enemies upon the tables of the world, Mordenkainen has enlisted the Clan Crafter Hralding to create this Codex of Allies, a collection of heroes and villains to call upon when the multiverse is in peril. The codex is filled with beautiful full color art and dotted with notes and insights from Mordenkainen himself.

There are 33 archetypes in within the codex, many of which are revised and re-balanced from Unearthed Arcana (UA) or from Mike Mearls Happy Fun Hour (HFH). The revised versions in this codex are intended to replace the originals until the archetypes are released in an official supplement.

Now Available for Fantasy Grounds VTT

This document is intended to be updated over time. The current version is 1.3

If you enjoyed this codex or have suggestions on the material presented within, please leave a review, talk in the discussion, or message me at CChralding@gmail.com. If you see anything out of place, it's probably the dwarf's fault. Please mention it or send a message.

I was wondering how Shadow Dance works in a practical sense. It sounds very cool but I'm having a hard time understanding when and how I would use it. The only example I have thus far is something like this: Use cunning action to hide in clear view of target. Move in and attack with advantage and sneak attack. My turn ends I'm no longer hidden. That's all I've got. Could you give me some other examples? Thanks!

Brian IJuly 31, 2019 11:49 pm UTC

CREATOR

Thanks Charles,

The main use is to make daring intrusions and escapes aided by your ability to Shadowdance in combination with Cunning Action. Since you're weaving through the Shadowfell, and are considered to be hidden for the movement on your turn, you can slip through guarded areas as long as you continue to be hidden at the end of each turn of movement. Using the action to Hide, and bonus action to Dash should aid in these sorts of attempts.

Think of it as the equivalent of the classic "disappearing into a puff of smoke" shtick, but if you're still visible when the smoke clears the enemy is going to see you.

Charles BAugust 01, 2019 1:26 am UTC

PURCHASER

Thanks Brian. Great work. Very well done and thematic and your reply explained it perfectly. I wonder how it could be used in combat. Normally a rogue could attack, use his cunning action to disengage and then move away. With Shadow Dance could you attack, hide, then move and end that movement hopefully out of sight? Not sure if being hidden provokes opportunity attacks or not. Anyways I love the archetype and plan on making one right this sec as soon as I figure out a race.:)

Charles BAugust 16, 2019 12:48 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Hey Brian, I did have one more question about the Shadow Dancer's "Weave Shadows" feature:

You can command the shadows to bend and shape to your will. As an action you can cast one of the following spells without requiring material components, darkness, invisibility or shadow blade. You can cast a spell in this way up to three times, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Just want to make sure I'm understanding this...Do you have access to all three of those spells? Or do I need to pick one but have 3 spell slots to cast it? The wording is weird to me. Thanks.

Brian IAugust 16, 2019 5:07 pm UTC

CREATOR

You have access to all three spells, and you can cast any combination of them 3 times per long rest. You choose which spell to cast when you take the action to Weave Shadows.

Would each be a valid way to use the feature, for example. Hope that clears it up.

Charles BAugust 17, 2019 2:02 pm UTC

PURCHASER

Thanks again Brian for the clarification. I just want to make sure I'm playing everything correctly. I'm currently rolling with a Halfling Shadowdancer. I had one final question question on Shadow Dance: Could I in plain sight use my cunning action to hide, then move towards a lone enemy and attack gaining advantage and sneak attack? So in other words does the hidden status end right when I finish my movement but before I attack OR after I attack? Just trying to determine if there will be any use of the ability in combat. Thanks!

Brian IAugust 17, 2019 7:58 pm UTC

CREATOR

The way I rule it, attacking breaks your Hide just after it hits or misses. It's really up to DM interpretation and their rulings in that example, but I prefer allowing it that way at my own table.

That sounds like a cool character, Charles. If you want, you can ask further questions or give feedback at my email cchralding@gmail.com

Kusal TJune 07, 2019 10:48 pm UTC

PURCHASER

I noticed the Circle of the Spirit Shaman is missing a prepared spell list like other druids. Is this intentional because of the find familiar addition?

Brian IJune 08, 2019 6:36 am UTC

CREATOR

It is intentionally not present. Some druids like Circle of the Moon, Circle of Dreams, or Circle of the Shepherd don't get extra spells, and the Circle of the Spirit Shaman is like that as well.

Rex PApril 04, 2019 3:54 pm UTC

PURCHASER

My only recommendation is to change the ranger artwork on page 22. Thanks for this great expansion, I love the barbarian subclasses!

Zac TFebruary 27, 2019 11:04 am UTC

PURCHASER

Would it be possible to get a changelog for version 1.3? Really love all these subclasses and interested to try out the Circle of Conflagration!

Brian IFebruary 27, 2019 7:24 pm UTC

CREATOR

Thanks for the comment, Zac. This should cover everything, unless you're using a version prior to 1.2

For those wondering, since Ravnica has released an official circle of Spores, a new Druid subclass is in the works to replace the circle of Decay. It's not ready quite yet and is still being tested and balanced. When it is finished (hopefully quite soon) I will be removing the current version of the circle of Decay, and placing it in a separate file called "Lost Pages" which will contain all outdated subclasses for those who need it as a reference. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Brian IDecember 08, 2018 3:52 am UTC

CREATOR

As of v1.3 Circle of Decay has been replaced with Circle of Conflagration

Paweł NJune 24, 2018 7:23 am UTC

PURCHASER

As always with this kind of work, most of the designs are focused on the ability (like the Acrobat- all features circle around ability to jump), or set of abilities, not on the archetype fantasy, thus creating a flat, two-dimensional characters. There is a clear distinction between UA designs of archetypes and amateur ones, which are focused mainly on "how to make a good... (enter a skill description)" instead of focusing on general feel and fantasy of the design (like UA and official archetypes masterfully do).

Nod HJune 10, 2018 2:41 am UTC

PURCHASER

Is the 'smallest' version your print-friendly designation?

Brian IJune 10, 2018 2:51 am UTC

CREATOR

Smallest is just really compressed for mobile viewing etc. I actually have to custom make a printer friendly version, so that won't be done until some time next week.

Brian IJuly 02, 2018 9:58 am UTC

CREATOR

A print safe option has been added. Ink cartridges rejoice!

Bryan HJune 09, 2018 12:14 am UTC

PURCHASER

I'm sure, based on you prior work, that these are fine but I have to question the decision to include someone else's work without their explicit permission. The guild makes it so we can share each other's work. If you want to use my archetypes in your products, I can't say anything about it as those are the rules. Those archetypes aren't on the guild. The ones that might eventually make it here (like the artificer and psion did), might be very different and the others are dropped from UA all together for good reasons.

This might be my own moral compass and I'm surely not suggesting you follow it, but perhaps put a disclaimer on which archetypes are taken from Mearls or maybe shoot him a tweet on twitter to make sure he's ok with it.

Brian IJune 09, 2018 12:27 am UTC

CREATOR

It was always my assumption that with the loose nature of the design documents Mearls produces for the HTFH archetypes, and the unfinished nature of UA content that it was okay for creators to update them for the guild, but I have gone ahead and sent Mearls a tweet, as you suggested.

Hope you enjoy the subclasses Bryan!

Brian IJune 12, 2018 7:34 am UTC

CREATOR

I sent a support ticket to the DMs Guild, and this was the response.

"Anything published by WotC for D&D is fair game for DMs Guild, as long as you follow the other content guidelines:

Unearthed Arcana is especially fine. If the other material was published as official Wizards of the Coast content, then you should be fine as well. The big thing to keep in mind is that you aren’t copying entire sections of the core material. We ask creators to follow the “create, don’t copy” mantra as the program’s golden rule. You can create work inspired by these works and adding to these works, but please do not rewrite or claim them as your own."

Nicholas MOctober 18, 2018 1:21 pm UTC

PURCHASER

problem with that is, any of the UA content can wind up in a published WoTC book. Not only that, but you could be potentially making money off of WotC created content which WotC is gonna not be happy with. Never mind the fact that people here could end up paying for something that has been free and already released for play testing which makes up for about 30% of your document.

I'd suggest taking the UA stuff out. You'd still have a good product without it. Either way I won't be paying for this while WotC's content is in it.

Brian IOctober 18, 2018 6:20 pm UTC

CREATOR

Thank you for your comment, Nicholas, the document is PWYW for those reasons, so that anyone can get it free. A big difference is that the UA archetypes in this book are not mere reprints of the existing Unearthed Arcana subclasses, as you imply. I have significantly altered each one, and attempted to rectify most of the imbalances and issues that were mentioned by players across the net and others I had found through playtesting. As such, this book is partially a "balance patch" that is free for anyone to use if they choose it.

From my understanding, if a piece of UA content from pre-XGE era is still unreleased, and has not been touched in any UA after its initial release, it is considered to be "abandoned". The ones that were going to receive further updates and playtesting have already been done through UA revisions and official release in Xanathar's. The tradgedy (to me at least) is that because the archetypes fill out many options that evoke a fantasy people want to play,...See more there is still widespread use of UA archetypes that will never be balanced and forever sit as a broken issue for individual DMs to balance on their own. I do not take lightly the work that WotC did making the UA documents, and I don't mean to disrespect any of that, it's just that thousands of players are still out there making their DM furious because they want to play a broken UA archetype, and I wanted to make a really official looking supplement that allows better play for everyone.

If there is a release of any of the UA archetypes in an official supplement, as stated above, my "balance patch" is no longer needed, and the archetype will be replaced in the codex by another, different archetype. As for WotC they do get royalties from any sale, so it's no loss to them. As such, until further note, the UA is staying in. If you don't wish to pay for it, that is more than fine. I want everyone to be able to play with better, updated UA archetypes for free if they want it, and it's PWYW to allow for that.

Definitely one of the best documents I've found for homebrew content. This feels so much like an official document it feels perfect. I highly reccomend to everyone who wants extra content to get this! [...]

My favorite find of the last month; we've been testing out a few of the builds in our sessions over the last month. Loving the monk builds which give a lot of much needed variety, but I do think the ranger classes need some work - as usual they seem to [...]

A smashing success of intuitive and vibrant subclasses by one of the best creators on DMsGuild. You should absolutely download this and then come back and tip the author some $ after you've read and enjoyed it yourself. [...]

This is litterally one of the best products on the DMsguild. Every archetype is well thought out, the art is beautifull. Seems well balanced and my favorite, is they all fit into the games style. 5 starts and would love a print version. [...]

Fantastic addition to any game with really well made and refined archtypes many of which fill big holes missing in the players experience. Very well laid out with beautiful art work. The only downside for me was that I can't have a physical copy of thi [...]

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